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PUBLIC LAW 86-623-AUG. 12, 1958

[72 ST A T,

location, examination, and survey of such lands and the acquisition of title thereto; but no payment shall be made for any such lands until the title thereto shall be satisfactory to the Attorney General: Rights - o easements, Vt^.*^' Provided, That the acquisition of such lands or interests therein by the United States shall in no case be defeated because of rights-ofway, easements, exceptionSj and reservations which, in the opinion of the Secretary of the Interior, will not interfere materially with the use of such properties for the purposes of this Act. Approved August 12, 1958. Public Law 85-623 August 12. 1958 [H.R. 12850]

S w itchblade knives. Prohibition. Definitions.

Penalty.

Territorial jurisdiction. 62 Stat. 757; 63 Stat. 94. 62 Stat. 685; 66 Stat. 589. Exceptions.

N onmail able knives.

Regulations.

AN ACT To prohibit the introduction, or manufacture for introduction, into interstate commerce of switchblade knives, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That as used in this Act— (a) The term "interstate commerce" means commerce between any State, Territory, possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and any place outside thereof. (b) The term "switchblade knife" means any knife having a blade which opens automatically— (1) by hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle of the knife, or (2) by operation of inertia, gravity, or both. SEC. 2. Whoever knowingly introduces, or manufactures for introduction, into interstate commerce, or transports or distributes in interstate commerce, any switchblade knife, shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. SEC. 3. Whoever, within any Territory or possession of the United States, within Indian country (as defined in section 1151 of title 18 of the United States Code), or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States (as defined in section 7 of title 18 of the United States Code), manufactures, sells, or possesses any switchblade knife, shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. SEC. 4. Sections 2 and 3 of this Act shall not apply to— (1) any common carrier or contract carrier, with respect to any switchblade knife shipped, transported, or delivered for shipment in interstate commerce in the ordinary course of business; (2) the manufacture, sale, transportation, distribution, possession, or introduction into interstate commerce, of switchblade knives pursuant to contract with the Armed Forces; (3) the Armed Forces or any member or employee thereof acting in the performance of his duty; or (4) the possession, and transportation upon his person, of any switchblade knife with a blade three inches or less in length by any individual who has only one arm. SEC. 5. Section 1716 of title 18 of the United States Code is amended by inserting immediately after the sixth paragraph thereof the following new paragraph: "All knives having a blade which opens automatically (1) by hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle of the knife, or (2) by operation of inertia, gravity, or both, are nonmailable and shall not be deposited in or carried by the mails or delivered by any postmaster, letter carrier, or other person in the postal service. Such knives may be conveyed in the mails, under such regulations as the Postmaster General shall prescribe—

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